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How should I prepare for my knee replacements?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (42)Comment receiving replies
I am an 82-year old female in relatively good health. I have osteoarthritis in my left knee and have been going to PT once or twice a week for most of the past year with the hope of not having to have surgery. It seems like my knee is now about as good as it is going to get. I have some pain and weakness on walking and cannot walk very far, but no pain at night. Cannot do a lot of activities around the house because of pain on certain moves, etc. I have an irregular heartbeat issue but had a recent catherization and echo after a chest pain episode that showed no blockage. Cardiologist said he would clear me for knee surgery At my age, I am fearful of the surgery and recovery and wonder if I should just continue to live with the pain for however much time I have left. My surgeon says that only surgery can repair the bone-on-bone situation, I had one set of gel injections which helped some but not as much as I had hoped. I would love to hear from anyone in their 80's who has been through TKR and is willing to share their experiences, pro and con. Thank you so much!
Replies to "I am an 82-year old female in relatively good health. I have osteoarthritis in my left..."
Almost to my 1 year anniversary of my replacement (age 65). Hardest thing I could imagine to come through, and I thought I was well-prepared and healthy.
You didn't mention if you had help/spouse at home. It is imperative that you have someone around when you go home. An ice-machine is necessary for pain control and swelling as well.
It is grueling and a huge decision. As the other supporter wrote, everyone is different, so age is not the only thing to consider.
Best wishes.
You have to decide on your quality of life. My brother-in-law was 83 years old when he had both knees replaced 4 months apart. He loved to travel, so having great knees has been a game changer for him. I had tkr on my tight knee in Dec . 2024. I’m happy I made the choice to do the surgery. It’s not an easy recovery. Hard work and motivation will help in your recovery. Having someone with you for the first couple of weeks is essential. I had my husband ! Do the research on pre and post preparation. I don’t think you get enough info from the medical professionals. The internet was my source of info. Best wishes. Be brave!
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You can have up to 3 rounds of gel injections. If you found that helped, I would do that before having surgery.